Helmet/hood assembly structure and method of use thereof

Abstract

A helmet / hood assembly includes a housing, a headband support assembly configured to hold the assembly on a human head, a face shield, and a flexible hood attached to the housing and to the face shield, with the assembly being received, stored, used, and disposed as a single unit. The headband support assembly pivots on the housing between a configuration suitable for shipping and storing the assembly and a configuration in which the assembly is worn. An accessory light powered by a battery may be held in place on the housing by magnetic attraction through the hood.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 738,215, filed Jun. 12, 2015, which is a is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 605,213, filed Jan. 26, 2013.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to a helmet / hood assembly to be worn by surgical personnel and, more particularly, to such a helmet / hood assembly having a structure and assembly process configured to provide for a significantly reduction in the space required for storing the helmet / hood assembly.2. Summary of the Background Information[0004]For thousands of years, people have made and worn various types of helmets to provide protection of the head from physical injury in war, sports, various occupations, and in forms of transportation, such as riding a bicycle or motorcycle, in which the head is exposed. When a suitable helmet was worn, the head ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes how a helmet / hood assembly can be packaged for easy storage and transportation. The packaged configuration reduces the width or height of the assembly, allowing for compact storage. The headband support assembly and face shield can pivot or extend horizontally / vertically, further reducing the size of the assembly. Structures above the housing are flexible and can be compressed downward, further reducing the size of the assembly. This invention provides a more portable and compact helmet / hood assembly for storage and transportation.

Problems solved by technology

However, since the air supply connections through hoses placed too many limitations on the movements of the operating room personnel, a portable air supply was developed, with an electrically-driven fan attached to the waist of each operating room person drawing air from behind his back, and with the air being supplied to his helmet through a flexible tube.

A first limitation of the conventional approach using the helmet / hood apparatus 10 arises from the fact that the helmet 18 has been designed as a traditional helmet that completely surrounds the head of the wearer, protecting the head from injury due to blows.

Therefore, the helmet 18 is unnecessarily large, resulting in increased costs for shipping and storage, and heavy, resulting in added discomfort for the wearer.

A second limitation of the conventional approach using the helmet / hood apparatus 10 arises from the fact that, while structures within the helmet 14 may include slots 36 allowing air movement, there are no openings within the upper portion 15 of the hood 12 through which fresh air can be drawn, or through which air may be exhausted.

A third limitation of the conventional approach using the helmet / hood apparatus 10 arises from the fact that the adjustment knob 34 is located at the rear of the helmet 14.

A fourth limitation of the conventional approach using the helmet / hood apparatus 10 arises from the complexity of the process for preparing the apparatus 10 for use, with the replaceable items, the hood 12, face shield 26, and sweat pads 30 being separately received and installed, and with significant space being devoted to the storage and refurbishment of used helmets.

A fifth limitation of the conventional approach using the helmet / hood apparatus 10 arises from the fact that, the remaining portions of the helmet 14 are reused by multiple people, often additionally in multiple locations within a large facility, flying rise to a possibility of various kinds of cross-contamination.

A sixth limitation of the conventional approach using the helmet / hood apparatus 10 arises from the use of rechargeable batteries, which limits the use of the apparatus 10 to areas where electricity is available for recharging the battery, providing particular problems in remote areas and in disaster areas.

A seventh limitation of the conventional approach arises from the fact that a conventional helmet includes a headband assembly that extends horizontally, and a face shield that extend vertically, so that a packaged helmet takes up substantial space within a transport vehicle an within a hospital storage facility.

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